ORGANIZATION AND ACTION GUIDELINES

INTER-AMERICAN CLEANLINESS AND CITIZENSHIP DAY (DIADESOL) INITIATIVE

2003

CONTENTS

1. JUSTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND
2. VISION
3. MISSION
4. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
5. BASIC STRATEGY
6. GUIDELINES FOR DIADESOL's ORGANIZATION
6.1 Coordination
6.2 Operationalization of DIADESOL
7. EVALUATION
8. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAUNCHING DIADESOL




1. JUSTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND

Each and every day, it is becoming increasingly more recognized that an adequate management of domestic, special, and dangerous solid waste as an urgent necessity for disease prevention -- not only to guarantee the cleanliness of cities and rural zones, but also to promote human development in a dignified and open environment.

The Inter-American Cleanliness and Citizenship Day (DIADESOL) is a "commemoration of cleanliness and citizenship" for the Americas, that seeks to raise awareness to civil society about the importance of maintaining our houses, cities, highways and places of recreation clean, so as to avoid its pollution.

The development and sustainability of this initiative includes a strategy of institutionalization for DIADESOL, concentrating the implementation of commemorative actions during a key date of the year, under a slogan or theme generated collectively for the countries of the Americas. In this manner, the underlying messages pertaining to DIADESOL celebration activities -- brought forth in diverse ways for each country and city (cleanliness campaigns, environmental ground remediation, competitions, etc.) -- will be extended to international public opinion.

DIADESOL is an initiative promoted by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineers (AIDIS), who have already invited various institutions involved with the issue to take part in this effort.

For this reason, the initiative's launching seeks to consider the inclusion of DIADESOL activities in work plans for PAHO and AIDIS country representations. In this process, important synergies would be obtained with various dates and commemorative health and environment acts -- which both institutions would give impetus to.

2. VISION

The cities, houses, land and recreation places in the Americas stay clean and promote healthful environments thanks to the concerted participation of the population, public and private institutions, entrepreneurial sector and other relevant groups in society.

3. MISSION

To promote reflection and action in hygiene, health, urban and rural habitat that is clean and healthful, with the aim of contributing to the sustainable development of our Region.

4. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

a. To institute DIADESOL as a key date in the Americas for giving impulse to a horizontal and decentralized process of awareness-building for civil society on urban and rural cleanliness, pertaining to domestic, special and dangerous solid waste management, as well as to prevention and control of ground pollution, and its relationship with health.

b. To promote cooperative and organic work between initiative partners and other institutions involved in promotion matters for the DIADESOL.

c. To develop synergistic actions that will make a great impact in public opinion by establishing common guidelines for instruments, procedures and strategies for use in promoting DIADESOL in the Americas.


5. BASIC STRATEGY

DIADESOL will be celebrated in the Americas the 3rd week of September --being the 3rd Saturday the central day-- under a slogan or theme generated collectively for the countries of the Americas. This theme will be decided by the principal partners of the initiativ